Hinduism in France
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 121,312 (2020) 0.2% of the total Population | |
| Religions | |
| Hinduism Vaishnavism (majority) Shaivism and others (minority) | |
| Scriptures | |
| Agamas, Bhagavad Gita and Vedas | |
| Languages | |
| Sacred Sanskrit, Old Tamil National Hindi, English, Mauritian Creole, Tamil, Punjabi, etc. (among diaspora) |
Hinduism is a minority religion in France that is followed by more than 121,312 people in France, which is nearly 0.2% of the nation's population. Most of the Hindus in France are mainly from the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora and the Indian diaspora, though there are many Hindus from Nepal, Afghanistan, Mauritius and other nations.
Hinduism is the fifth largest in Europe, after those of the United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands and Germany.[1]
Emergence of Hindus in France[edit]
The initial presence of Hindus in France dates to the early 1700s and primarily consisted of sailors and servants, who eventually converted to Christianity. The Hindu population remained small until the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, which reduced the travel time between India and Europe. Thereafter, as Indian dancers, musicians, and yogis began to migrate to France, the Hindu population slowly grew. From 1900 to 1920, a temporary Hindu temple was constructed. Businessmen, students, and intellectuals began to migrate and settle in Paris. France also became a destination for refugees fighting for Indian Independence.[2]
Hindu immigration to France was catalyzed by Indian Independence in 1947. In 1971, Hindu Bengalis began migrating to France. By 1975, nearly 60,000 Indians, 40% of which were Hindu, had migrated from Pondicherry to France. Mauritians also began migrating to France for work and education after gaining independence. There are now approximately 60,000 Mauritians in France, primarily made up of Hindus and Muslims, and most of them settling in Paris.[2]
The majority of Hindus in France are now Sri Lankan Tamils, whose population surged during the civil war in Sri Lanka as refugees sought asylum in the West. Most refugees aimed for refuge in Great Britain, but as Great Britain tightened their immigration policy, they eventually settled in France. For the same reason, Gujaratis, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis, many of whom practiced Hinduism, settled in France.[2]
Influence of Hinduism in France[edit]
In 2022, Durga Puja was celebrated in 12 pavilions across France with various events including worship, offering of Anjali, distribution of prasad, and cultural programs.[3] Diwali is celebrated in Reunion island, also Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in Paris.
Notable personalities[edit]
French people who were influenced by Hinduism include : Alexandra David-Néel, René Guénon, Mirra Richard, Romain Rolland, Satprem, François Gautier, Voltaire.
Hinduism in French overseas territories[edit]
Hinduism in Martinique[edit]
Hinduism is followed in the Martinique by the Indo-Martiniquais. Though Indo-Martiniquais comprises approximately 10% of the population of the island of Martinique, only a few are Hindus. Only 15% of Indo-Martiniquais are Hindus.[4]
Hinduism in French Guiana[edit]
As of 2010, Hinduism is followed by 1.6% of the population of French Guiana.[5] It is practiced mostly by the descendants of the Indo-Guyanese, who in 2014 numbered around 360,000.[6]
Hinduism in Réunion[edit]
The French government gathers no statistics on religious affiliation. Because of this, it is impossible to know accurately how many Hindus there are in Réunion. Estimates of practicing Hindus vary from 6.7%[7] to 10.7%.[8] Most of the large towns have a functioning Hindu temple.[9]An interesting feature, likely peculiar to Réunion, is the simultaneous observance by some ethnic Indians of both Catholic and Hindu faiths, a practice that has earned them the sobriquet of being "socially Catholic and privately Hindu."
Hinduism in Guadeloupe[edit]
Hinduism is practised by Some Indo-Guadeloupeans in Guadeloupe. According to statistics, Hinduism is followed by 0.5% of the Guadelopeans.[10]
Notable French Hindus[edit]
- Vikash Dhorasoo, a member of the French Football World Cup squad in 2006. He is an ethnic Mauritian Indian from the town of Le Havre.
- Alain Danielou, a French historian, intellectual, musicologist, Indologist and noted Western convert to Shaivite Hinduism.
- Arnaud Desjardins, French journalist, film maker, main disciple of Swami Prajnanpad.
- François Gautier, French journalist, settled in India and Western convert to Hinduism.
- Bapi Das Baul, Bengali folk musician, born in Kolkata and settled in France.
- Bollozzou Bassavalingam, Poet and writer, born in Yanam and settled in France.
- Jayasri Burman
- Maya Burman
- Sakti Burman
Famous Hindu Temples[edit]
- Sri Sathya Narayana Padhuga Temple, 6-8 Avenue Anatole France, 94600 Choisy-le-Roi, France[11]
- Temple Ganesh, 17 Rue Pajol, 75018 Paris, France
- Radha Krishna Temple, 230 Avenue de la Division Leclerc, 95200 Sarcelles, France[11]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ^ "European Countries With The Highest Number Of Hindus: 2010 To 2050". WorldAtlas. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
- ^ a b c Trouillet, Pierre-Yves; Voix, Raphaël (2020-07-07). Hinduism in France. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-43228-4.
- ^ "ফ্রান্সজুড়ে ১২টি মণ্ডপে পূজা পাচ্ছেন দেবী দুর্গা". Ekattor TV. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ^ "Martinique" (PDF). World Maps. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Religions in French Guiana | PEW-GRF". www.globalreligiousfutures.org. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
- ^ Heenan, Patrick; Lamontagne, Monique, eds. (2014). The South America Handbook. Routledge. p. 318. ISBN 9781135973216.
- ^ "Indian diaspora" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ^ "Country Profile: Reunion (Department of Reunion)". Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 2015-02-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Peoples of Africa: Réunion-Somalia. Marshall Cavendish. 2001. pp. 412–. ISBN 978-0-7614-7166-0.
- ^ "RELIGIONS IN GUADELOUPE". www.religion-facts.com. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
- ^ a b "Famous Hindu Temple in France". World Tour & Travel Guide, Get Travel Tips, Information, Discover Travel Destination | Adequate Travel. 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
Further sources[edit]
- Horowitz, Michael M. (1963). "The Worship of South Indian Deities in Martinique". Ethnology. 2 (3): 339–346. doi:10.2307/3772865. ISSN 0014-1828. JSTOR 3772865.
External links[edit]
- "List of Hindu temple in France". Tamil Library.
